Stars we lost in 2017

Sam Lovullo, Jan. 3, 2017

Sam Lovullo (center left), who as producer and co-creator of "Hee Haw" brought country music and homestyle humor to millions of American homes, died at his home in Los Angeles on Jan. 3, 2017. He had been suffering from heart disease. He was 88.

He's shown here in 2007 with singer Willie Nelson and the cast of "Hee Haw" as he accepts the Entertainer's Award during the 5th Annual TV Land Awards in Santa Monica, Calif.

AP Photo/Gus Ruelas, File

William Peter Blatty, Jan. 12, 2017

Novelist and filmmaker William Peter Blatty (left), a former Jesuit school valedictorian who conjured a tale of demonic possession and gave millions the fright of their lives with the best-selling novel and Oscar-winning movie "The Exorcist," died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. He was 89.

He's shown here with Linda Blair, who starred in the 1973 film and William Friedkin, the film's director, at a screening of the remastered film at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Miguel Ferrer, Jan. 19, 2017

Actor Miguel Ferrer, who brought stern authority to his featured role on CBS’ hit drama “NCIS: Los Angeles” and, before that, to “Crossing Jordan,” died Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, of cancer at his Los Angeles home. He was 61.

John Hurt, Jan. 27, 2017

British actor John Hurt, who could move audiences to tears in “The Elephant Man,” terrify them in “Alien,” and spoof that very same scene in “Spaceballs,” died Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, in London. He was 77.

AP Photo/Sang Tan, File

Bill Paxton, Feb. 25, 2017

Bill Paxton, a prolific and charismatic actor who had memorable roles in such blockbusters as "Apollo 13" and "Titanic" while also cherishing his work in "One False Move" and other low-budget movies and in the HBO series "Big Love," died Feb. 25, 2017 from complications due to surgery. He was 61.

Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File

Judge Joseph Wapner, Feb. 26, 2017

Judge Joseph Wapner, who presided over "The People's Court" with steady force during the heyday of the reality courtroom show, died at home in his sleep Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, according to his son, David Wapner.

Don Rickles, April 6, 2017

Don Rickles, the hollering, bald-headed "Merchant of Venom” whose barrage of barbs upon the meek and the mighty endeared him to audiences and his peers for decades, died Thursday, April 6, 2017 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 90.

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File

John Geils, April 11, 2017

Musician J. Geils, left, founder of The J. Geils Band known for such peppy early 80s pop hits as "Love Stinks," ''Freeze Frame" and "Centerfold," died in his Massachusetts home Tuesday, April 11, 2017. He was 71.

Faith Ninivaggi/The Boston Herald via AP

Charlie Murphy, April 12, 2017

Comedian Charlie Murphy, who is best-known for his appearances on "Chappelle's Show" on Comedy Central and who collaborated with writing his brother Eddie Murphy's starring films "Norbert" and "Vampire in Brooklyn," died Wednesday, April 12, 2017, of leukemia in New York. He was 57.

Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File

Erin Moran, April 22, 2017

Actress Erin Moran, the former child star who played Joanie Cunningham in the sitcoms "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi," died at age 56. Police in Harrison County, Indiana said that she had been found unresponsive Saturday, April 22, 2017, after authorities received a 911 call.

AP Photo/Wally Fong, File

Michael Parks, May 9, 2017

Michael Parks, a prolific character actor and a favorite of directors Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith who's known for his roles in "Twin Peaks," "Kill Bill" and "Tusk," died Tuesday, May 9, 2017. He was 77.

Chris Cornell, May 17, 2017

Rocker Chris Cornell, who gained fame as the lead singer of the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, died Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at age 52. Police said his death is being investigated as a possible suicide.

Gregg Allman, May 27, 2017

Music legend Gregg Allman, whose bluesy vocals and soulful touch on the Hammond B-3 organ helped propel The Allman Brothers Band to superstardom and spawn Southern rock, died Saturday, May 27, 2017. He was 69.

AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file

Glenne Headly, June 8, 2017

Glenne Headly, an early member of the renowned Steppenwolf Theatre Company who went on to star in films and on TV, died Thursday, June 8, 2017. She was 62.

Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File

Adam West, June 10, 2017

Prodigy, June 20, 2017

Prodigy (Albert Johnson), the skilled rapper and member of the New York hip-hop duo Mobb Deep, died Tuesday, June 20, 2017, in Las Vegas. He was 42. Prodigy had been hospitalized recently “for complications caused by a sickle cell anemia crisis.”

AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Michael Nyqvist, June 27, 2017

Swedish actor Michael Nyqvist, who starred in the original “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” films and often played villains in Hollywood movies like “John Wick,” died Tuesday, June 27, after a year-long battle with lung cancer. He was 56.

Martin Landau, July 15, 2017

Martin Landau, the chameleon-like actor who gained fame as the crafty master of disguise in the 1960s TV show "Mission: Impossible," then capped a long and versatile career with an Oscar for his poignant portrayal of aging horror movie star Bela Lugosi in 1994's "Ed Wood," died Saturday, July 15, 2017. He was 89.

AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File

George Romero, July 16, 2017

George Romero, whose classic "Night of the Living Dead" and other horror films turned zombie movies into social commentaries and who saw his flesh-devouring undead spawn countless imitators, remakes and homages, died Sunday, July 16, 2017. He was 77.

John Heard, July 21, 2017

June Foray, July 26, 2017

Actress June Foray, who gave voice to Rocky the Flying Squirrel and hundreds of other cartoon characters and was sometimes known as the "female Mel Blanc," died July 26, 2017 in a Los Angeles hospital. She was 99.

Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File

Sam Shepard, July 27, 2017

Sam Shepard, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Oscar-nominated actor and celebrated author whose plays chronicled the explosive fault lines of family and masculinity in the American West, died of complications from ALS, Thursday, July 27, 2017, at his home in Kentucky. He was 73.

(AP Photo/Charles Sykes)

Barbara Cook, Aug. 8, 2017

Barbara Cook, whose shimmering soprano made her one of Broadway's leading ingenues and later a major cabaret and concert interpreter of popular American song, died Aug. 8, 2017, of respiratory failure at her home in Manhattan. She was 89.

Dick Gregory, Aug. 19, 2017

Dick Gregory, the comedian and activist and who broke racial barriers in the 1960s and used his humor to spread messages of social justice and nutritional health, died Saturday, Aug. 19. 2017. He was 84.

Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File

Jerry Lewis, Aug. 20, 2017

Jerry Lewis, the manic, rubber-faced showman who jumped and hollered to fame in a lucrative partnership with Dean Martin, settled down to become a self-conscious screen auteur and found an even greater following as the tireless, teary host of the annual muscular dystrophy telethons, died Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017. He was 91.

Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP Images, File

Shelley Berman, Sept. 1, 2017

Comedian Shelley Berman, who won gold records and appeared on top television shows in the 1950s and 1960s delivering wry monologues about the annoyances of everyday life, died at his home in Bell Canyon, California, from complications from Alzheimer's disease Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. He was 92.

AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

Walter Becker, Sept. 3, 2017

Walter Becker, the guitarist, bassist and co-founder of the 1970s rock group Steely Dan, which sold more than 40 million albums and produced such hit singles as "Reelin' In the Years," "Rikki Don't Lose that Number" and "Deacon Blues," died Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017. He was 67.

AP Photo/Nick Ut, File

Troy Gentry, Sept. 8, 2017

Troy Gentry (shown at right), one half of the award-winning country music duo Montgomery Gentry, died Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 in a helicopter crash. He was 50. The group's website said Gentry "was tragically killed in a helicopter crash" that occurred around 1 p.m. Friday in Medford, New Jersey. The group was supposed to perform Friday at the Flying W Airport & Resort in Medford.

Frank Vincent, Sept. 13, 2017

Frank Vincent (right), a veteran character actor who often played tough guys, including mob boss Phil Leotardo on "The Sopranos," died Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017. He was 80.

Vincent also appeared in "Raging Bull," "Goodfellas" — where he played Billy Batts, a made man in the Gambino crime family — and "Casino," playing Frank Marino, based on real-life gangster Frank Cullotta.

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File

Jake LaMotta, Sept. 19. 2017

Jake LaMotta, the former middleweight champion whose life in and out of the ring was depicted in the film "Raging Bull," for which Robert De Niro won an Academy Award, died at a Miami-area hospital from complications of pneumonia Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2017. He was 95.

(AP Photo/Gina Gayle, File

Hugh Hefner, Sept. 27, 2017

Playboy founder Hugh M. Hefner, the pipe-smoking hedonist who revved up the sexual revolution in the 1950s and built a multimedia empire of clubs, mansions, movies and television, symbolized by bow-tied women in bunny costumes, died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. He was 91.

AP Photo/Kristian Dowling, File

Monty Hall, Sept. 30, 2017

Monty Hall, the genial TV game show host whose long-running "Let's Make a Deal" traded on love of money and merchandise and the mystery of which door had the car behind it, died of heart failure at his home in Beverly Hills on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017. He was 96.

(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Tom Petty, Oct. 2, 2017

Tom Petty, an old-fashioned rock superstar and everyman who drew upon the Byrds, the Beatles and other bands he worshipped as a boy and produced new classics such as "Free Fallin,'" "Refugee" and "American Girl," died Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. He was 66.

Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP

Ralphie May, Oct. 6, 2017

Comedian Ralphie May, who parlayed a second-place finish on TV's "Last Comic Standing" in 2003 into TV and club appearances, died of cardiac arrest Friday, Oct. 6, 2017. He was 45. May had been fighting pneumonia, which caused him to cancel a few appearances in the past month.

Tom Gilbert/Tulsa World via AP

Gord Downie, Oct. 17, 2016

Gord Downie, who made himself part of Canada's national identity with songs about hockey and small towns as lead singer and songwriter of iconic rock band The Tragically Hip, died Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017, at age 53 after a battle with brain cancer.

(Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Robert Guillaume, Oct. 24, 2017

Robert Guillaume, who rose from squalid beginnings in St. Louis slums to become a star in stage musicals and win Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the sharp-tongued butler in the TV sitcoms "Soap" and "Benson," died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. He was 89

AP Photo/Michael Tweed, File

Fats Domino, Oct. 24, 2017

Fats Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music while honoring the traditions of the Crescent City, died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. He was 89.

Della Reese, Nov. 19, 2017

Della Reese, the actress and gospel-influenced singer who in middle age found her greatest fame as Tess, the wise angel in the long-running television drama "Touched by an Angel," died Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017. She was 86.

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File

David Cassidy, Nov. 21, 2017

David Cassidy, the teen and pre-teen idol who starred in the 1970s sitcom "The Partridge Family" and sold millions of records as the musical group's lead singer, died Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at age 67.

Cassidy, who announced earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with dementia, died surrounded by his family, a family statement released by publicist JoAnn Geffen said Tuesday. He recently had been in a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, hospital suffering from organ failure.

AP Photo/Dan Steinberg, File

Jim Nabors, Nov. 30, 2017

Jim Nabors, the shy Alabaman whose down-home comedy made him a TV star as Gomer Pyle and whose surprisingly operatic voice kept him a favorite in Las Vegas and other showplaces, died peacefully at his home in Hawaii on Thursday with his husband, Stan Cadwallader, at his side. He was 87.

Johnny Hallyday, Dec. 6, 2017

Johnny Hallyday, France's biggest rock star for more than half a century and an icon who packed sports stadiums and all but lit up the Eiffel Tower with his high-energy concerts at the foot of the Paris landmark, died early Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. He was 74.

Irwin Corey, Feb. 6, 2017

Irwin Corey, the wild-haired comedian and actor who was known for his nonsensical style and who billed himself as “The World’s Foremost Authority,” died Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, at his home in Manhattan. He was 102.

Miriam Colon, March 3, 2017

Actress, theater founder, and director Miriam Colon, an icon in U.S. Latino theater who starred in films alongside Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, died Friday, March 3, 2017, because of complications from a pulmonary infection. She was 80.

AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File

Dorothy Mengering, April 11, 2017

Dorothy Mengering, the mother of host David Letterman who became an unlikely celebrity in her 70s as she baked mystery pies and covered the Olympics for her son's late-night show, died Tuesday, April 11, 2017. She was 95.

AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File

Jonathan Demme, April 26, 2017

Jonathan Demme, the eclectic, ever-enthusiastic filmmaker behind the Oscar winners "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Philadelphia," and the director of one of the most seminal concert films ever made, the Talking Heads' "Stop Making Sense," died Wednesday, April 26, 2017. He was 73.

Barbara Sinatra, July 25, 2017

Barbara Sinatra, the widow of legendary singer Frank Sinatra and a prominent advocate and philanthropist for abused children, died Tuesday, July 25, 2017, of natural causes at her Rancho Mirage, California, home. She was 90.

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File

Anne Jeffreys, Sept. 27, 2017

Anne Jeffreys, the actress and opera singer who likely had her greatest impact on TV audiences as Marion Kerby "the ghostess with the mostess" in the 1950s TV series "Topper," died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. She was 94.

Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File

Robert Guillaume, Oct. 24, 2017

Robert Guillaume, who rose from squalid beginnings in St. Louis slums to become a star in stage musicals and win Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the sharp-tongued butler in the TV sitcoms "Soap" and "Benson," died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 in Los Angeles. He was 89.

Mel Tillis, Nov. 19. 2017

Mel Tillis, the affable longtime country music star who wrote hits for Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs and many others, and overcame a stutter to sing on dozens of his own singles, died Sunday, Nov. 19. 2017. He was 85.

AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File

Sue Grafton, Dec. 28, 2017

Mystery writer Sue Grafton died in Santa Barbara, Calif., at the age of 77. Her daughter, Jamie Clark says her mother passed away Thursday night, Dec. 28, 2017, after a two-year battle with cancer and was surrounded by family.

AP Photo/Gino Domenico, file

Rose Marie, Dec. 28, 2017

Shown here are, from left, Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, and Richard Deacon, and Dick Van Dyke, right, around Carl Reiner, in barber chair during a rehearsal of an episode for the "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

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